Cassia Sokcho launches mango-themed promotions Cassia Sokcho is offering a mango-themed afternoon tea set and seasonal bingsu items includes 10 mango-based desserts and two savory items The set is priced at 98,000 won ($69) for two and requires advance reservation Horizon cafe offers a Jeju apple mango bingsu topped with fresh mango and mousse along with a red bean bingsu made with local Anheung red beans Sheraton Grand Incheon to host wedding fair Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel will host a wedding fair on May 18 inspired by Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies.” wedding gown fashion show and vendor booths Couples planning weddings in 2026 can get discounts on meals On-site bookings during the fair qualify for additional gifts The event is open to 200 preregistered guests and runs from 11 a.m Reservations can be made via the hotel’s website or by calling (32) 835-1142 Four Seasons Hotel Seoul offers family month promotions Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is offering multiple food promotions in May Italian restaurant Boccalino is offering two main sharing dishes — a whole roasted chicken and a T-bone steak respectively — with an optional full-course meal add-on The hotel’s bakery is also selling caramel pound cakes through May 31 for 54,000 won Le Meridien Myeongdong launches summer bingsu specials Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong is offering seasonal shaved ice desserts from May 1 to Aug The Au Soleil Bingsu series includes three options: affogato with Illy espresso Each version is served with ice cream and a variety of toppings Prices range from 29,000 won to 39,000 won Shinhan Tops Club members receive a 10 percent discount Grand Josun Jeju to hold one-day art program Grand Josun Jeju will host an art event with artist Lee Sara on May 31 in partnership with gallery platform LIMAA The 90-minute program includes a talk session and a pastel workshop where participants create their own work based on Lee Sara’s style All materials are provided and completed pieces are framed and given to attendees Guests will also receive a disposable film camera The event is open to 15 guests who book through the hotel’s website and is priced at 30,000 won per person Discover Seoul's hidden spots and the stories they hold To feature your event, view our promotional options The Coronado Public Library’s Best of the Best Book Club meets regularly on the fourth Wednesday of each month to discuss books that have won major awards Receive reminder emails about our meeting by registering below we will discuss the 2021 National Book Award winner Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin a novel that explores rifts of identity—personal and national—and the fleeting kinship that is possible between solitary strangers a tourist town on the border between South and North Korea beyond the beach guns point out from the North’s watchtowers A young French Korean woman works as a receptionist in a tired guesthouse an unexpected guest arrives: a French cartoonist determined to find inspiration in this desolate landscape When she agrees to accompany him on trips to discover an “authentic” Korea they visit snowy mountaintops and dramatic waterfalls But he takes no interest in the Sokcho she knows—the gaudy neon lights As she’s pulled into his vision and taken in by his drawings Winter in Sokcho is a novel about shared identities and divided selves Elisa Shua Dusapin’s voice is distinctive and unmistakable Elisa Shua Dusapin was born in France in 1992 and raised in Paris Winter in Sokcho (Hiver à Sokcho) is her first novel it was awarded the Prix Robert Walser and the Prix Régine Desforges and has been translated into six languages The Coronado Times newspaper provides in-depth coverage of Coronado, CA. Our online publication has been Coronado's trusted news source for over 20 years. Our staff is local and committed to quality coverage of our Coronado community. Learn more about our publication. Send Us News Tips & Story Ideas: [email protected] Content may not be re-published online or offline without permission South Korean cities are not known for their beauty a fishing town near the border with North Korea captivates with its stunning location nestled between mountains and sea – and an undeniable charm until recently an obscure town on the coast of South Korea has become world famous thanks to the book «Winter in Sokcho,» with a film version that is in theaters this month Matthias Sander visited the town for NZZ’s travel section I was at an intersection with my rental car but there was not a single gap in the oncoming traffic pulled into the oncoming lane next to mine silently thanking my grandmother for her sage advice My journey along South Korea’s northeastern coast had begun in Gangneung the final stop on the KTX high-speed train from Seoul the plan was to head north along the coast I soon passed a road sign that seemed to promise grand adventure: «Asian Highway,» it read «Korea–Russia–China–Kazakhstan–Russia» – as if there were only one Korea and the world’s most impenetrable border did not exist But I did not want to go quite that far – not this time I just wanted to give South Korea one last chance So far I had enjoyed a couple of mountain hikes and a few neighborhoods in Seoul It's amazing how we build mental images of countries we have never visited tea ceremonies and Mount Fuji’s snowcapped peak Then you arrive and discover that much of Japan is so developed it makes Switzerland’s Plateau look like a pristine nature reserve It dawned on me later that these impressions probably came straight from a Lonely Planet guidebook because their «Highlights» section paints South Korea as exactly that: a country filled with temples and pagodas I could have done some online research on South Korea before my trip In a world overflowing with images of everything and everyone I prefer to keep the element of surprise intact who wants to know beforehand what they're getting for Christmas True discovery inevitably involves being surprised – and as we all know from gifts under the Christmas tree those surprises can range from amazing to disappointing Whether in the city of Wonju in the center of the country in Suncheon in the south or the much-hyped city of Busan I kept encountering the same urban sprawl: massive apartment blocks they had clearly been given too many drawing boards Your country was devastated during the Korean War South Korea expanded and thrived on a narrow There are valid reasons for how things look But that does not mean I have to find it beautiful I had made the mistake of mostly sticking to cities because they are easiest to reach by train or bus But I had a sense that somewhere out there more picturesque South Korea was waiting to be discovered That feeling was first confirmed during a cab ride through a valley glowing in late-autumn colors I was on my way from Suncheon to the medieval village of Nagan-myeon where wiry old men repaired the thatched roofs nestled between imposing city walls That was how I imagined the northeast – the most remote region of South Korea – to be When my international driver’s license finally arrived The coastal road passed through the middle of town was more of a fishing village than a tourist hot spot They recommended attractions like the Demilitarized Zone Museum and the «Unification Observatory» on the North Korean border – both more than 40 kilometers away they had only one suggestion: the lighthouse But a look at the map told me that Sokcho was no ordinary city another lake to the north and the sea to the east – where else can you find that and even the impatient driver who passed me earlier could not dampen my mood – especially when he ended up stuck behind a bus giving me the perfect chance to glide past him in the right lane Sokcho began to reveal its unvarnished charm The fish restaurants in their ramshackle stalls the fishing boats crowded along the waterfront and fish drying on wire mesh fences made it clear that Sokcho was not trying to perform for anyone the host welcomed me with a few too many questions for my liking It's true that I was traveling during the pandemic I probably looked like a walking health hazard to some Koreans – for understandable reasons the man must know that South Korea was rigorously testing every incoming traveler and enforcing a tightly controlled two-week quarantine explaining that the government required this information – but «oh never mind» he corrected himself – that rule doesn't take effect until next week a small island I had read about that was known for its traditional eateries He recommended the local specialty: stuffed squid a variation of the Korean classic sausage called sundae I was intrigued – what could squid possibly have to do with a pork blood sausage The highlight of Abai Village was the fact that getting there required taking a ferry (A newer highway bridge had no sidewalk.) I made a quick stop at a pub on the pier and was once again struck by the quirks of globalization: The only beer on tap was Krombacher I watched a pedestrian wave at the ferryman He and the pedestrian waited a few more minutes until an additional passenger arrived Then the ferry finally set off for Abai Island I hurried to finish my beer and jumped aboard to save the ferryman another waste of his muscle power sagged into the water and stretched the length of the ferry The ferryman moved to the front railing and hooked the cable with a metal rod pulling hard until the ferry grudgingly began to move When we were just a few meters from the opposite bank and I dropped my 500 won fare – about 40 cents – into a coin box display boards told a story from decades past The black-and-white photos depicted a narrow sandbank dotted with wooden shacks and modestly dressed people the first settlers of Abai Island in the early 1950s As in so many picturesque spots in South Korea there were also newer photos of a young couple – taken during the filming of the romantic TV series «Autumn in My Heart,» which is widely regarded as a catalyst for the Korean Wave that boosted South Korean popular culture to global prominence tourists always arrive at such picturesque places – and Sokcho is no exception Abai Island’s central alleyway is a patchwork of food stalls And although – or perhaps because the biting winter winds left the streets deserted the storefronts competed to outshine one another with their music It felt the way I imagine an LSD trip might feel an older woman in an apron stood calmly at a grill with images from restaurant television shows that had filmed here where a young couple helped translate the menu though the exact ingredients were a mystery each was available in a single portion – unusual in South Korea The woman in the apron brought the usual armada of small dishes – kimchi in every imaginable variety and a bowl of bibimbap topped with seaweed flakes sliced into finger-width rings and cooked to perfection Each piece overflowed with finely ground stuffing made from noodles The only resemblance to pork blood sausage was that the squid acted as the casing eager to explore more remote corners of the region a stream of weekend tourists lured me to the fishing harbor and a picturesque pavilion perched on a rocky outcrop in the sea a vendor was selling Korean shoes with a slogan that read «Great – Excellent – Fantastic.» It felt like an apt description of Sokcho itself and I decided to visit again on my way back The road north toward the border with North Korea led to an obligatory stop I bought a pass to visit the Demilitarized Zone the four-kilometer-wide buffer strip across the Korean Peninsula young soldiers with machine guns inspected my ticket I heard machine-gun fire and piercing screams My heart jumped – until I realized the sounds were coming from a museum dedicated to the Korean War led past oversized statues of Jesus and Buddha the view was breathtaking: the East Sea stretching into the horizon I scanned the mountains through one of the telescopes searching for any sign of North Korea or the invisible border Of course I could not find one – the mountains remain indifferent to human conflict After two nights at a mountain lodge – the kind you might find in Switzerland or Canada but with the added luxury of South Korea’s ondol underfloor heating – I felt the pull to return to Sokcho A cable car went up to a jagged outcrop near the summit a loudspeaker announcement periodically reminded people to wear their «maseukeu» – face masks visitors had constructed countless small stone towers a city neatly sandwiched between the foothills of Seoraksan and the East Sea knowing better than to compete with the mountains or the ocean Even the inevitable prefabricated buildings lost some of their brutality from a distance tokens of human ambition to conquer the planet – a goal we’ve unfortunately achieved all too well I asked the host at my accommodation about a place I’d heard referred to as «food town.» Ah I must mean the fish market – it was in the basement of the market hall even though I had walked past the nearly deserted hall one evening on my first visit a nondescript staircase led me underground to a sprawling hall packed with sashimi restaurants – 30 or 40 I wondered how many places like this I had already missed because of the language barrier I ordered the minimum size: a sashimi platter that included three red crabs and a fish soup a man in his mid-30s wearing slippers and an oversized shirt reached into one of the aquariums with a net and pulled out a striking dark blue fish though I failed to catch the specific name The vendor picked it up and pressed it firmly onto a cutting board with his gloved hand then grabbed a knife with his free hand and delivered a swift blow to the fish’s head The vendor turned on the tap as the fish twitched violently He sliced off the tail fin – it twitched again I wasn’t so sure I wanted my sashimi anymore That hesitation disappeared the moment the plate of sliced fish elegantly arranged on a bed of white seaweed arrived at my table I marveled at my ability to dissociate the brutality of the slaughter from the pleasure of the meal their thick legs yielding an ample amount of tender meat «Heyya!» to the ferryman waiting on the opposite bank «Where are you from?» We struck up a conversation during which he apologized for being a bit drunk as this seemed to be the default state for many Korean men after 9 p.m and his face lit up with enthusiasm as he thanked me The ferryman asked the man in rubber boots to hold the raft steady with a rope for a moment as he took down the ferry sign Then he hooked the main cable with his metal rod while his passenger grabbed the other handle they pulled the ferry across the water to Abai Island Raw squid hoe at pocha (outdoor food tent) street in front of the Dongmyeong Port in Sokcho inhabited by displaced North Koreans and their descendants in Sokcho Steamed squid being prepared at the pocha street [JOONGANG ILBO] Sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup with rice) at Dancheon Sikdang in Sokcho Nurungji squid sundae at Moyeo Garibi by Daepo Port in Sokcho can also be coated with egg and then pan-cooked [JOONGANG ILBO] London BFI Flare Glasgow Edinburgh Cannes Venice Berlin Sundance SXSW TIFF Tribeca New York Marking the debut feature film of Koya Kamura literary adaptation Winter in Sokcho is a subtle slow-burner Director: Koya KamuraGenre: DramaRun Time: 104′TIFF Screening: September 8 Elisa Shua Dusapin’s debut novel “Winter in Sokcho” was a huge hit in France on publication in 2016 and won the US National Book Award for Translated Literature after it reached anglophone audiences four years later So the pressure is on for French-Japanese filmmaker Koya Kamura in his own debut as he adapts a story of quotidian minutiae and tender inwardness for the big screen Soo-Ha (Bella Kim) lives a quiet life in Sokcho a seaside village close enough to the North Korean border that tourists often take day trips to the famous DMZ which is what makes the arrival of successful French artist Yan Kerrand (Roschdy Zem) at the hotel she works at all the more surprising to practice the language she studied at university but his presence unlocks a curiosity about her past and the French father who disappeared from her life before she was even born The majority of our time is spent basking in the conversations between Soo-Ha and Yan as the young woman becomes a sort of unofficial tour guide for the artist in search of inspiration one that hinges on the interplay between its characters far more than its slender plot Just as well then that our leads are up to the task who is the real MVP of Winter in Sokcho with her subtle turn as Soo-Ha Disturbed and galvanised in equal measure by the presence of Yan throughout the film we see the protagonist grapple with her identity an unhappy relationship and confusing new feelings for the older Frenchman yet the effects of these troubles rarely register on her cool exterior Kim portrays her with impressive restraint the character’s resistance to vulnerability painfully clear though his modest lodgings serve to bring the aloof artist down to Earth and expose what may be to Soo-Ha a disappointing humanness The French-Moroccan actor portrays him with just the right amount of mystery mercifully refraining from common ‘tortured artist’ clichés His creative mind is visualised by a series of animated sequences a device also used to explore the inner workings of Soo-Ha’s psyche as she is inspired by her new companion Yet despite these glimpses into our characters’ souls the film is so understated that it’s hard to glean anything of substance from their words or actions could go unnoticed by some viewers for most of the film including a confrontation with Soo-Ha’s mother about her absent father that falls flat it’s hard to say if we know our characters that much better than we did 100 minutes earlier It seems that in the transition from novel to film a certain literary interiority got lost and Kamura’s visual flourishes aren’t quite enough to make up the deficit There’s plenty beneath the surface of Winter in Sokcho this tale of identity and alienation set to the backdrop of a border town in a divided country What makes Kamura’s debut worthwhile is the emotionally intelligent performance from his lead who internalises the anxieties of her protagonist with admirable ease because I for one can’t wait to see what Bella Kim does next Winter in Sokcho was screened at TIFF on September 8 Final Destination Deaths, Ranked from Worst to Best Sharp Corner Review: Overly Subtle Thriller Queen of the Ring Review: Surface-Level Biopic The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 4 Review Doctor Who Season 15 Episode 4 Review Motel Destino Review: A Little Slice of Purgatory 2025 Open City Documentary Festival: 10 Movies to Watch The Uninvited Movie Review: Hollywood Meh-hem By continuing to use this website, you agree to the use of cookies in order to offer you content and services that are tailored to your interests. Belgian San Francisco International Film FestivalUnited States Rendez-vous – Nuovo cinema franceseItaly Films français sélectionnés Rendez-Vous With French Cinema à New YorkUnited States View more(10)FermerWinter in SokchoSelections(10)Jeonju International Film FestivalSouth Korea Ostend Film Festival (FFO)2025 Göteborg Film FestivalSweden Unifrance Rendez-Vous in ParisFrance Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF)Switzerland San Sebastian International Film Festival (SSIFF)Spain TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)Canada as well as representatives based in the U.S The organisation currently brings together more than 1,000 French cinema and TV content professionals (producers etc.) working together to promote French films and TV programmes among foreign audiences Hanwha Hotel & Resort will hold the music festival "WATERBOM SOKCHO 2025" at Hanwha Resort's Seorak on August 23 Waterbomb is a representative summer festival in Korea where you can play in the water and enjoy performances at the same time Close cooperation between Hanwha Hotel & Resort and Sokcho City is behind Sokcho a city with a population of less than 100,000 being selected as the venue for the third consecutive year Hanwha Hotel & Resort has invested billions of won every year to attract Waterbomb Sokcho for the purpose of revitalizing local tourism more than 10,000 tourists visited Waterbomb Sokcho leading to revitalization of nearby commercial districts and job creation It is estimated that the Waterbomb Festival has created an economic effect of more than 10 billion won a "women's wellness leading insurance company," will become the representative sponsor If you purchase an admission ticket in advance you can purchase it at half the normal price paid shuttle buses will be operated at some stations including Seoul Station and Sadang Station It is also planning a product and room package that combines water bomb tickets and Seorak Waterpia passes An official at Hanwha Hotel & Resort said "Waterbomb has a high proportion of female audiences at about 70% so we are focusing on forming an invited singer that can appeal to women We are also considering expanding new festivals considering not only snow music but also the effects of rising together with other regions." ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool Perched between the East Sea and Mount Seorak and designed by renowned architect Kim Chan-joong honoured by Wallpaper as one of the "20 World Architects to Watch," the resort spans 12,022m² with 26 floors above ground and 2 below Its integrated book-themed design offers an inviting atmosphere we aim to create a dynamic and vibrant community hub in Sokcho Our guests will enjoy not only stunning ocean view rooms and a variety of facilities but also an engaging and welcoming space where genuine connections are fostered," said General Manager Bryan Yoon Connected Living Space Cassia Sokcho incorporates destination elements into its design and services ensuring an immersive experience that reflects Sokcho's unique character The hotel is designed for community seekers offering five versatile event spaces ideal for business conferences accommodating up to 400 guests in an 836 m² pillarless space is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities Four additional function rooms can be customised for smaller meetings and corporate events supported by experienced event specialists to ensure each event is memorable and engaging Dynamic Culinary Delights Diverse dining options at Cassia Sokcho cater to every taste features dynamic show kitchens serving international cuisine "Horizon" café and bakery offers freshly baked bread while "Bosco" offers a cosy bar and afternoon tea experience "Fogo" grill restaurant serves a variety of grilled dishes including fresh meat and local seafood delicacies and the rooftop bar "Cielo" boasts a premium alcohol menu engaging experiences The hotel's fifth floor is dedicated to wellbeing The rejuvenating "8LEMENTS Spa" includes fifteen treatment rooms and massage spaces The sauna features a large whirlpool with East Sea views The "Activa" Fitness Centre is equipped with the latest facilities and guests can recharge at the "Liquid Activa" bar with healthy offer a relaxing experience with panoramic ocean views Cassia Sokcho offers an array of facilities tailored for families with children Featuring a program designed to support children's growth and development the hotel provides an authentic and enriching experience for families Public spaces are inspired by Sokcho's vibrant street atmosphere enhancing the overall guest experience and connection to the local culture Cassia Sokcho invites guests to experience its unique blend of vibrant living and community connection. For more information or to book a stay, visit https://www.cassia.com/south-korea/cassia-sokcho Hotel website Brand OwnerBanyan Group The 82,000-ton US-flagged large cruise "Nordam" will enter Sokcho Port on the 20th According to Gangwon Province and Sokcho City on the 17th on the 13th and enter Sokcho Port at 7 a.m The Nordam is a representative cruise ship of Holland America in the U.S. and this is the first time it has entered Sokcho Port The Nordam is scheduled to dock at Sokcho Port and sail back to Sakaiminato on the same day and arrive in Hong Kong on November 10 and 1,500 of them will disembark at Sokcho Port and tour Seoraksan Mountain and Naksansa Temple in Yangyang the 20th National Outstanding Market Fair will also be held Sokcho City is preparing hospitality events such as Bukcheongsaja Norum and distribution of souvenirs to commemorate the first port of Nordam from one of the rooftops at Cassia Sokcho [LEE JIAN] general manager of Cassia Sokcho [CASSIA SOKCHO] One of three rooftop spaces at Cassia Sokcho [LEE JIAN] The mountain view from a rooftop at Cassia Sokcho [LEE JIAN] currently only open to overnight guests at Cassia Sokcho [CASSIA SOKCHO] The lobby floor of Cassia Sokcho [CASSIA SOKCHO] The lobby floor of Cassia Sokcho [LEE JIAN] A one-bedroom Premier King at Cassia Sokcho [CASSIA SOKCHO] The balcony view from a suite at Cassia Sokcho [LEE JIAN] A kitchen inside a room at Cassia Sokcho [LEE JIAN] The bedroom of a suite at Cassia Sokcho [LEE JIAN] Feature Films Database Southern Mediterranean films database Scriptwriters European Film Schools Production Companies Distributors International Sales Submit a Film Industry Reports Co-Production Podcast Online Screenwriting Training Course Guided Course for Feature Film Writing Script Analysis Analysis of the potential of your series Cineuropa's Training Catalogue Film Festival Photographs Newsletter Photogalleries EUFCN Location Award Euro Film Fest 27 Times Cinema GoCritic! Advertise on Cineuropa Logos and Banners TORONTO 2024 Platform by Fabien Lemercier 09/09/2024 - French-Japanese director Koya Kamura delivers an sensitive and atmospheric first feature film about the road to self-acceptance showcasing the many directorial qualities of this French-Japanese director who shot the movie in South Korea and who has deftly orchestrated the coming together of newcomer Bella Kim and star Roschdy Zem Soo-Ha (Bella Kim) works in a small hotel called the Blue House in the snowy Having returned to her hometown several months earlier the former literature student is now on the verge of a married future (as desired by her mother) with her boyfriend But Soo-Haa is concealing inner torments linking back to her birth and to a French father she’s never met When Yan Kerrand (an excellent Roschdy Zem in the rather unusual role of a French comic book author who "likes going to really busy places but only when they’re deserted") arrives in the hotel a deep malaise stirs within the young 25-year-old woman talking about their scars and secretly observing one another… Based upon Élisa Shua Dusapin’s book of the same name and very cleverly composed by Koya Kamura and Stéphane Ly-Cuong the screenplay homes in on the various stages of their encounter which sits on the border of communication between two different cultures and two characters who struggle to let their guard down each of them lost in their own separate ways and with Kerrand holding up a mirror to Soo-Ha’s liberating search for self Absorbing the atmosphere of the (varied and highly evocative) natural setting like a sponge the film gently advances towards the heart of its subject-matter with great sensitivity displaying an unobtrusively sophisticated visual approach complemented by short animated sequences (courtesy of Agnès Patron) We might almost speak of old-fashioned cinema (in the positive sense of the term) when we speak of this first feature film which plays elegantly on "forms which allows its style to infuse rather than imposing it by force and which ultimately reveals a director we all should be watching very closely Winter in Sokcho was produced by French firm Offshore in co-production with Korean outfit Keystone Films. Be For Films are steering international sales Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox "It’s not spectacular, it’s an intimate film" The French-Japanese director shares the adventure of his first feature film, which was shot in Korea and which stars Bella Kim and Roschdy Zem in lead roles 10/09/2024 The first film by French-Japanese director Koya Kamura, starring Bella Kim and Roschdy Zem, will compete in the Platform and New Directors sections 05/09/2024 | Toronto 2024/San Sebastián 2024 Productions and co-productions from Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, France and Bulgaria have emerged as the victors of this year’s Bulgarian festival 25/03/2025 | Sofia 2025 | Awards Professionals from the world of cinema and film music will come together in the French city between 24 and 29 March 21/03/2025 | Festivals | Awards | France The audience favoured the family drama directed by Austrian filmmaker Ulrike Kofler, while the international jury awarded Best Director to French-Japanese director Koya Kamura for Winter in Sokcho 18/03/2025 | Bergamo 2025 | Awards Organised by Unifrance and Film at Lincoln Center, the event will screen 22 feature films in the company of numerous directors between 6 and 16 March 06/03/2025 | Festivals | Awards | USA/France Stéphane Ly-Cuong delivers a funny, kind-hearted and refreshing first feature film about the misadventures of a woman in search of her identity and dreaming of a career in musicals 04/03/2025 | Films | Reviews | France The festival will showcase over 60 Bulgarian films across genres, formats and co-productions alongside its usual regional and European focus 04/03/2025 | Sofia 2025 From 8 to 16 March, the festival will offer 160 films, meetings with guests and industry days about the valorisation of the European cinema heritage 28/02/2025 | Bergamo 2025 26/11/2024 | Production | Funding | France 06/05/2025Crossing Europe 2025 Review: Callas, Darling 02/05/2025goEast 2025 Review: My Magical World 30/04/2025Films / Reviews – Italy Review: San Damiano 30/04/2025Hot Docs 2025 Review: King Matt the First 29/04/2025Films / Reviews – Italy Review: Storia di una notte 29/04/2025Films / Reviews – Peru/Spain Review: Kayara. La guerrera del Imperio Inca Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the most important daily or weekly news on European cinema Crossing Europe 2025 Cannes 2025 Marché du Film The Party’s Over! leads France TV Distribution’s Cannes slate CPH:DOX 2025 CPH:DOX Industry Europa Distribution explores the release of documentaries at CPH:DOX Cannes 2025 Marché du Film AFCI runs its second annual Global Film Commission Network Summit at Marché du Film Festivals / Awards Czech Republic Czech Republic’s Anifilm goes sci-fi Distribution / Releases / Exhibitors Europe European Arthouse Cinema Day set to return on 23 November Cannes 2025 Marché du Film Indie Sales presents a three-star line-up at Cannes HOFF 2025 The Shadow and U Are the Universe win at Estonia’s Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival Crossing Europe 2025 Awards The New Year That Never Came and The Flats crowned at Crossing Europe Cannes 2025 Marché du Film Be For Films to sell Love Me Tender in Cannes Cannes 2025/Sponsored Latvia set to shine bright at Cannes, led by Sergei Loznitsa’s competition entry Two Prosecutors Las Palmas 2025 MECAS/Awards Manuel Muñoz Rivas and Joana Carro win awards at the eighth MECAS Market TrendsFOCUSA busy spring festival season awaits the European film industry. Cineuropa will continue to keep its readers up to date with the latest news and market insights, covering the buzziest events, including Cannes, Kraków, Karlovy Vary, Tribeca, Hot Docs, Annecy, Brussels, Munich and many others Distribution, Exhibition and Streaming – 06/05/2025Europa Distribution explores the release of documentaries at CPH:DOXThe network has held a case study workshop as part of its brand-new partnership with the Copenhagen-based festival Distribution, Exhibition and Streaming – 02/05/2025Slovak crime-thriller Černák becomes the highest-grossing film in domestic cinemasThe second film in the saga about a local mafia boss, directed by Jakub Króner, outgrossed its first part, which dominated Slovak cinemas last year Jaśmina Wójcik • Director of King Matt the First The Polish director discusses her approach to taking on a 1920s children’s literary classic in an unexpected way Želimir Žilnik • Director of Eighty Plus The Serbian director discusses his deep suspicion of ideologies in relation to his irresistibly charming latest feature, which follows a man whose life spans three political systems Paulina Jaroszewicz • Distribution and marketing manager, New Horizons Association Cineuropa sat down with the Polish distributor to discuss her company’s strategy as well as the connection between its distribution line-up and BNP Paribas New Horizons Festival’s programme Lorcan Finnegan • Director of The Surfer The Irish filmmaker discusses his mystery-thriller, how he created the character with Nicolas Cage and his approach to the use of colours in the film Privacy Policy The images used on this website have been provided by journalists and are believed to be free of rights if you are the owner of an image used on this website and believe that its use infringes on your copyright We will remove the image in question as soon as possible We have made reasonable efforts to ensure that all images used on this website are used legally and in accordance with copyright laws About us | Contact us | Logos and Banners Mission | Partners | Team | Donations | Terms and conditions Be sure to book ahead for the best tours of Sokcho and make the most out of your trip. | Photos of Korea / Unsplash Gangneung Gangneung’s six-kilometer-long Gyeongpo Beach is much loved for its fine sand and numerous facilities But it’s also famous for its picturesque sunrise and tranquil moonrise the beach is the site for various cultural events including beach festivals and cherry blossom viewings While Gangneung’s beaches and are splendid the city’s parks are also worthy of exploration Kids will love the submarine and decommissioned warship on display at Tongil Park while adults will appreciate the dramatic architecture and contemporary works at Haslla Art World one of Korea’s only oceanside Buddhist temples which is an eclectic mix of casual tent bars a beautiful stretch of white sand that offers great views of Busan’s unique urban landscape Book ahead for the best tours of Busan and make the most out of your trip to the city. Jindo Located in South Jeolla Province which consists of more than 1,700 islands and islets some of which are inhabited by small fishing communities brush up on your Korean history at one of the city’s many cultural relics Admire the larger-than-life bronze statue of celebrated Admiral Lee Sun-shin on the Great Jindo Bridge near the very site where he won a decisive battle against the numerically superior invading forces of Japan in the 16th century Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Perhaps Jindo’s biggest draw is its Miracle Sea Road Festival which celebrates a natural phenomenon that takes place once a year Visitors can watch as the sea mysteriously parts and can walk along the culminating 2.8-kilometer-long road from the main island to a smaller nearby island is due to the difference between high and low tides Suncheon Bay and its surrounding area is a natural ecosystem that has remained almost completely untouched. As a habitat for local plant life, a variety of sea creatures and migratory birds Suncheon Bay has been globally recognized for its ecological value and is often referred to as the ecological capital of Korea which includes stops at Suncheon Bay’s wetlands and reed fields Other attractions on the journey include Naganeupseong a village of thatched roof houses that date back to the Joseon Dynasty and an open set where a number of popular Korean movies and dramas have been filmed and spicy hairtail stew – all served with sides of local produce and fresh seafood Geoje Dubbed the “Blue City,” Geoje is not so much a city as it is an island – Korea’s second largest after Jeju – of villages and settlements that are dotted around the coastline There’s no better way to see the sights than by renting a motorcycle and zipping around from beach to beach Don’t miss the chance to hike Daegum Mountain no visit to Geoje would be complete without a visit to nearby Oedo Island a botanical garden so beautiful that it has been nicknamed “the paradise of Korea.” providing visitors with a unique perspective of the island but there are several points that do get steep and require some athletic ability See & Do The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break See & Do 10 of the Oldest Cities in the World See & Do The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in South Korea in the Spring Guides & Tips 6 Things to See and Do in Andong Guides & Tips 13 Hilarious Arabic Swear Words and Phrases Guides & Tips A Hiker's Guide to Jeju Island Guides & Tips The Most Beautiful Islands in South Korea Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in November See & Do The 8 Most Beautiful Places to See Cherry Blossoms in South Korea Architecture The Most Amazing Buildings In Seoul Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in October See & Do The Best Things to See and Do in Haeundae US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd A media art facility built on the beach by Sokcho-si is attracting a large number of tourists as soon as it opens a dessert bread shaped like a surfing polar bear is set to be sold online and offline According to both local governments on the 16th the nation's first beach-type media art facility "Sea of Light Sokcho" began operation on the 10th It is a facility that implements various media arts in a 70m wide and 15m long area on the sandy beach at the southern gate of Sokcho Beach and operates every Friday and Saturday night but it provides a pleasant experience for the eyes and ears through the production of videos and music that fit the theme The facility attracted as many as 2,000 tourists for two days upon its opening the number of visitors is expected to increase significantly as it is going viral as a unique photo zone on SNS "We will foster it as a four-season night tourist attraction through abundant content production and facility expansion." local specialty brand dessert bread "Yangyang Hanip" is attracting young people's attention ahead of its sale from the end of this month Yang Yang Han-bite embodies the 'polar bear' The clothes worn by Polar Bear embodied the symbols of Yangyang which can be ground directly without the process of being soaked in water Yangyang-gun expects to capture the tastes of the MZ generation who enjoy unique and distinctive food "It is a brand that reflects the image and trend of Yangyang and it will be of great help to revitalize local tourism." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is seen behind bars in an anti-Pyongyang leaflet distributed to the press on Tuesday and displayed at the Sokcho Coast Guard Station in Gangwon representative of a group of South Korean relatives of people abducted to the North representative of a North Korean defectors' group display an envelope containing anti-Pyongyang leaflets in front of the Sokcho Coast Guard Station in Gangwon on Tuesday Lotte Resort will introduce a second new product that greatly strengthens the benefits of its pre-sale membership "Signature L." "Signature L" is a pre-sale member product that can benefit not only Lotte Resort but also various Lotte Group affiliates such as Lotte Hotel and Lotte Duty Free Shop and consists of Lotte Resort Sokcho and Buyeo integrated membership and Jeju Art Villa membership The renewed product is an integrated membership of Lotte Resort Sokcho and Buyeo and the biggest feature is that it includes the exceptional benefits of selling Lotte Resort Sokcho Hotel Dong for the first time in Lotte Resort membership only condo-dong at Lotte Resort Sokcho was available The integrated membership is 10-30 pyeong (33-99㎡) "sweet."L' and 40 to 50 pyeong (132 to 165 square meters) Luminous.You can choose from L' and you can use 30 nights a year at Lotte Resort Sokcho and Buyeo Resort In addition to a 30% discount on membership fees for three years up to 70% of Lotte hotels at home and abroad and 50% of water parks and saunas will be provided when signing up for a new pre-sale membership and golf-type vouchers consisting of resort accommodation tickets "The Signature L 2nd new sale membership is the first membership that can be used to the hotel building of Lotte Resort Sokcho and we have prepared it to reflect the needs of many customers." We interview French-Japanese director Koya Kamura whose debut feature film Winter in Sokcho premiered at TIFF 2024 about a father braving the Fukushima no-go zone to see his young son garnered universal acclaim and an official selection at the 2021 César Awards it was clear great things awaited Koya Kamura where we discussed the French-Japanese director’s craft Kamura has chosen to adapt Elisa Shua Dusapin’s wildly popular book “Winter in Sokcho” for his debut feature which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September The novel tells the story of Soo-Ha (Bella Kim), a young woman whose quiet life in the sleepy South Korean town of Sokcho is upended by the arrival of a successful artist from France (Roschdy Zem) forcing her to confront her feelings around her own French heritage through her absent father. It is a tender character-driven piece full of literary interiority so translating it to the big screen was always going to be a challenge clearly the work of an accomplished visual storyteller his blend of animation and live action bringing the inner worlds of our two protagonists to life We sat down with Kamura for an interview about identity language and the challenges of adapting Winter in Sokcho for the cinema How did you decide that you wanted Elisa Shua Dusapin’s book to be the source material for your first feature-length movie Koya Kamura: It was actually kind of by chance At the time I was struggling on another project called Evaporated which was supposed to be my first feature film and it talks about a Japanese phenomenon called ‘evaporation’ which is when someone suddenly leaves his family goes to start a new life somewhere else. I ran into Elisa Shua Dusapin’s book I totally felt connected to the story and to the character This story also talks about this girl that has never known her father because he left before she was born so there was a kind of connection with what I was working on I really saw the pictures of the place in my head: this little town Sokcho in the north of South Korea It’s described in the book as a place with a lot of empty spaces and my previous short film called Homesick was actually taking place in Fukushima and this is how we decided to start working on it There was a real connection; a lot of stuff in both of our lives felt very similar That really encouraged me to make the decision to start working on this project I didn’t know at the time if it was going to be my first feature or second one; I was essentially hoping to make at least one film So I just worked with the two projects at the same time So did you work closely with the author of the novel because she had been involved in two adaptations for theater and now she wanted to put some distance between her and the story But we really got along and we’re still in contact now because it allowed me to have my own vision What challenges did adapting Winter in Sokcho from book to film present K.K.: I guess every adaptation goes through the same kind of issues and challenges the main one was that this specific novel is really intimate It’s written as if we were the main character and as we look at the world through her eyes we understand how she sees it; her vision of the world is what also really seduced me in the book. I had to find a way to understand her interiority I definitely didn’t want to use a voiceover so I very quickly had this idea of using animation kind of justified by the fact that the story has this French artist and so I used these to try to show the audience some kind of glimpse at her interiority It’s a bit more raw than what you have in the book which is more elaborated and formulated with words It’s like something she can’t control and this is just the way it appears in her heart. Were there different versions before you found the right look and feel for them Koya Kamura: I knew that I wanted animation but the first idea that came to me was something very abstract I also didn’t want to fall into the most obvious direction; we had this cartoonist coming in but I didn’t want it to look like a cartoon or comic strip I really liked her style – it was very pure she used to draw on black paper and with white lines which makes it darker and makes it more intimate and discrete we worked together to find some different style She did many tests and experiments to try different kinds of treatments and looks I’m very glad I got a chance to work with her the ‘interiority’ of the central character Soo-Ha’s eating disorder and her relationship with her body could easily be missed if you’re not paying attention Are you drawn to this more implicit form of cinema the eating disorder was one of the themes that actually compelled me the most this was actually one of the main things that I wanted to talk about because she had had different interviews before with other people that wanted to adapt the book too obvious; maybe some of the audience won’t see it There is a very explicit scene where she’s actually throwing up but until this moment where she explodes somehow some people might find it a bit more discrete I didn’t really think about how to show it It just felt natural when I wrote the script: we wanted it to be kind of insidious – it’s there but you don’t mention it clearly. Language is another subtle aspect of the film When Soo-Ha makes mistakes with her French it exposes a gulf between her and Zem’s character as well as how distant she feels from her French ancestry How important is language to our sense of identity K.K.: The reason why I really felt connected to the character and I feel that for my whole life I was kind of ashamed that I wasn’t able to speak Japanese I’ve been working in Japan and shooting a film in Japanese I know that I haven’t mastered the language as I have French in the eyes of others… for Japanese people So language is part of this pressure that I feel as well but decided that she wanted to learn the language because she’s trying to fill this gap and meet the expectations people will have of her How did you discover her and what was it like to work with her because the profile that I was looking for was very specific I was looking for a 25-year-old-ish girl; I wanted her to be able to speak fluent Korean and ideally half-European and half-Korean. I only met maybe four women that matched those criteria and none of them had experience in filming before But I could understand the very first time [Bella and I] met that she perfectly understood the character She worked so hard that she really filled that gap of experience She was so invested in the film and on the shoot and I’m very happy about the work she did K.K.: I’m going to try to enjoy the festival that we are in with this film I’ve also finally finished the script of the other project I was struggling with so we’re in the middle of looking for financing for that again – I say again because I shot a short film there already It’s the story of one of these ‘evaporated’ men that I mentioned earlier who fled from his family and ended up among the workers cleaning up Fukushima after the nuclear disaster They’re going to find a body over there a kind of film noir set in the Fukushima area This interview was edited for length and clarity Winter in Sokcho was screened at TIFF on September 8 Header credits: Koya Kamura (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for IMDb) / A still from Winter in Sokcho (Offshore & KEYSTONE FILMS / Courtesy of TIFF) Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email Editor's Note: This piece is published as the world marks the 74th anniversary of the start of the Korean War Situated on the eastern shore of South Korea rests an unassuming village home to resettled North Korean refugees who fled southward during the Korean War often referred to as the Forgotten War in the U.S inhabited by approximately a dozen displaced individuals from the north occupies a small expanse of land within the coastal city of Sokcho It initially served as an unofficial refuge for thousands of North Koreans who held the belief that they would eventually return to their homeland upon the end of the war Amid mounting tensions between the north and south before the war some individuals made the decision to relocate to Seoul in order to avoid potential conflict it was primarily the outbreak of the war that witnessed a mass exodus of thousands from the north the North Korean military and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army formed an alliance aiming to exert pressure on United Nations forces so they would withdraw from the Korean peninsula It was at this time that approximately 6,000 North Koreans from Hamgyong Province decided to resettle in Sokcho The word abai (아바이) comes from the Hamgyong Province dialect and means "uncle" or "aged person." The land was too muddy for homes to be built more like temporary shelters because most people planned on going back north The signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27 marked the official closure of the border but not the end of the war those who had fled to the south were not allowed to return to their homeland Due to the continuing tensions between North and South Korea thousands of aging North Koreans have been permanently separated from their homeland who has resided in Abai Village since 1951 Having fled the north during the war with her mother and grandmother Kim mainly views Abai Village as her home and despite the passing of many of her friends and seeing her children relocate to larger cities she says she finds solace and comfort within the confines of the village prepping seafood side dishes (banchan) for her friends seeing neighbors and playing with her Nanta drum group As she thinks about her life before the war she remembers the abundance and comfort she experienced Her father's employment in the railway industry provided financial stability and a comfortable life She reminisces about her beautiful home and the numerous relatives who frequently visited her family have found ways to pass time on the village whether it's volunteering to clean the island prepping dishes for their families and friends or playing Hwatu As the only ones still alive from the north they are familiar with each other and consider one another like family Abai Village boasted the highest concentration of resettled North Koreans in South Korea the largest group of displaced North Koreans reside in Seoul while Abai Village has evolved into a cultural tourist destination the generation that once knew and experienced a unified Korea is gradually transitioning into a historical chapter of the country Abai Village's transformation has left behind minimal remnants of its original character a quiet beach and a relatively small restaurant scene all serving similar dishes — North Korean cold noodles with spicy pollock and various squid dishes For North Koreans who have relocated to the south the legacy of the war persists as a deeply personal matter This legacy encompasses a myriad of emotions growth and a profound sense of yearning for the life they knew up north This project was supported by the National Geographic Society Grant Hannah Yoon is a documentary photographer based in Philadelphia, Pa. You can see more of her work on her website, hannahyoon.com, or on Instagram at @hanloveyoon GPB is committed to bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia across the country and around the world. Your support makes this possible. Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service at Andaz Seoul Gangnam in southern Seoul [ANDAZ SEOUL GANGNAM] Strawberry desserts at Cassia Sokcho in Gangwon [CASSIA SOKCHO] TORONTO 2024 San Sebastián 2024 by Cineuropa 05/09/2024 - The first film by French-Japanese director Koya Kamura will compete in the Platform and New Directors sections 25-year-old Soo-Ha lives in a bit of a rut in a rhythm punctuated by visits to her mother When a French man named Yan Kerrand arrives in the boarding house where Soo-Ha works it awakens within her questions about her own identity Soo-Ha and Kerrand will observe and gauge each other the director studied film in both Paris and Tokyo and is currently at work on his next feature 25/03/2025The Co-production Podcast Episode 75: Vermiglio (Italy/France/Belgium) 20/03/2025The Co-production Podcast Episode 74: Crossing (Sweden/ Denmark/France/Turkey/Georgia) 14/03/2025Thessaloniki Documentary 2025 EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for Thessaloniki Documentary title People, Gods and Other Creatures 13/03/2025Sofia 2025 EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for Sofia entry Hallway to Nowhere 11/02/2025LUX Audience Award 2025 The European Film Club to bring the LUX Audience Award nominees to young audiences across Europe 06/02/2025Berlinale 2025 – Panorama EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for Berlinale Panorama entry Letters from Wolf Street 10/09/2024 - The French-Japanese director shares the adventure of his first feature film which was shot in Korea and which stars Bella Kim and Roschdy Zem in lead roles Cineuropa: What made you want to adapt Élisa Shua Dusapin’s novel?Koya Kamura: I was struggling to write what was supposed to be my first film which was set in Japan and revolved around “the vanished” My producer spoke to me about Winter in Sokcho I was immediately captivated by the writing and by the subject-matter which was really close to my heart because it’s about a young woman who never knew her father I was also fascinated by the book’s set-up which was very similar to the one in my first short film which unfolded in a context of suspended time and in a place that’s somewhat emptied of its population There was one thing that was really clear and which was confirmed when I spoke to the author our experiences and the way we’ve experienced our mixed race - our “difference” - were very similar and led us to ask the same questions about our identity I very quickly dug deep into the story and made it my own because Elisa didn’t want to be involved in adapting it who’s desperately searching for her own identity but in a very unobvious way she doesn’t even know she’s trying to find out who she is The arrival of the French character triggers something in her that raises questions and a sudden awareness of her immobility But it’s not spectacular; this is an intimate film who represents another form of loneliness and is a very paradoxical artist?He’s first and foremost very selfish because he’s a man who has always put his art first I wanted the viewer to understand things quickly because I don’t give much information about him He’s someone who’s not very curious: he doesn’t eat local food the places he visits are touristy places and he makes no effort to talk to people But he’s interested in someone other than himself for the very first time and he opens up a little bit What about the animation sequences?In the novel the viewpoint often comes from the character of Soo-Ha: we discover the world through her eyes we understand her vision of what’s around her because I wanted something totally internal but also organic Animation allowed me to have something rawer that’s how the first animation sequences in the film came about The aim was to get a glimpse of the character’s inner side to understand what she feels in terms of emotions But I didn’t want the meaning to be too clear: it needed to be a little bit difficult to comprehend Can you tell us something about your two main actors?Roschdy Zem’s strength is his ability to appeal to very different audiences He has an incredibly wide fanbase who aren’t necessarily cinephiles but he also makes very specific film choices I’m incredibly proud to feature in this spectrum I wanted a young woman who was half-French and half-Korean and who spoke perfect Korean and very good French it distracts the audience from the film a little I realised that she’d totally understood the character 06/05/2025 Lionel Massol • Producer, Films Grand Huit“We want to produce films that tell the story of society, with a strong artistic bias” 02/05/2025 Annegret Richter • Artistic director, Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film“There’s no definition of which target group it has to be for; you can tell any story with stop motion” 02/05/2025 Sanja Božić-Ljubičić • CEO, Pickbox, Mediatranslations, Mediavision and NEM“We will always stay focused on the CEE region, a region that’s unique – it can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding” 30/04/2025 Mirko Goran Marijanac • Media sales executive, DeAPlaneta Entertainment“It’s all about using AI ethically, and making the most of its tools to boost efficiency in animation and distribution” 29/04/2025 Anne Pouliquen • Founder and Director, Futura Cinema“Futura Cinema acts as a bridge between cinemas, cultural innovation and technological solutions” all interviews Korea.net hosts networking event for Honorary Reporters Accord with Japan to protect both nations' people abroad A bilateral agreement with Japan will bolster cooperation in protecting the nationals of both nations abroad Click here to read more about the latest summit between leaders of both countries Talks with NZ seek to upgrade ties to strategic partnership Korea and New Zealand have agreed to advance talks on elevating the bilateral Partnership for the 21st Century concluded Korea and New Zealand have agreed to advance talks on elevating the bilateral Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership Mixed boccia pair to face Hong Kong for Paralympic gold the Jeong-Kang pair will face in the final Hong Kong in mixed pair BC3 boccia 🌕 S-Tier food for Chuseok 🌕 | K-Cuisine Relay | Ep.28 Galbijjim & Samsaeknamul “Reading is so sexy!” — Headlined by The Guardian (UK)　| Balance Talk | Ep Korean German architect in Seoul seeks to innovate Hanok Grassroots group seeks to clean up trash from Jeju waters Polish capital hosts Korean cultural event at Breakfast Market Hanbok-clad children play traditional games President Yoon attends opening of Cyber Summit Korea Descendants of Korean War veterans attend event in Incheon Multicultural families attend Chuseok event Address by President Yoon Suk Yeol on the 79th Liberation Day Keynote Address by President Yoon Suk Yeol at the NATO Public Forum K-pop management innovation changes global music industry Korea-French friendship to drive future partnership Denmark's digital strategy to preserve global democracy 10th workshop of European Association for Korean Language Education (EAKLE) PNP launches TOP COP special class to enhance tourist safety K-Culture Extravaganza Lights Up Jozi: Korean Cultural Centre Unveils ‘Travelling Korea’ Korean Restaurant to open soon in Abuja-Envoy Jusung Gabriel Park & Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra Production Design: Scene Architects Build On-Screen Worlds This story was originally posted on October 6 noting Winter in Sokcho’s designation as a finalist for the National Book Awards It was updated on November 19 after the novel was named a winner written by Elisa Shua Dusapin and translated from the French by Aneesa Abbas Higgins has won the 2021 National Book Award for Translated Literature The novel was published by Open Letter, the University of Rochester’s nonprofit literary translation press, one of only a handful of publishing houses dedicated to making world literature accessible to English-language readers. Winter in Sokcho is the first of the publisher’s titles to be named a finalist and a winner by the National Book Foundation which administers the awards—one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the country since 1950 Twenty-five finalists were shortlisted for this year’s awards, with five books each in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. The winners were announced live at the 72nd National Book Awards Ceremony, held online on Wednesday Of the novel’s initial designation as a finalist “It’s a great honor to have a book on the National Book Awards shortlist.” Originally published by Daunt Books in the UK in March 2020 the translation is getting “second life here in the United States at a time when readers could fully appreciate the stark beauty of Dusapin and Higgins’s writing,” according to Post Set in the eponymous tourist town on the border between South and North Korea Winter in Sokcho traces the uneasy relationship between a young French Korean woman working as a receptionist in a tired guesthouse and an unexpected visitor: a French cartoonist determined to find inspiration in the desolate landscape is about shared identities and divided selves it won the Prix Robert Walser that same year Open Letter gives voice to women authors in translation Only 3 percent of all books published in the United States are translated from other languages and only 29 percent of those are by women authors Rochester is home to several projects aimed at addressing this ‘Drifting open eyed into insanity’ and Preservation has acquired a remarkable collection of 52 personal letters from author and early feminist reformer Charlotte Perkins Gilman who minces no words when it comes to motherhood A small giant in world literature Open Letter is one of only a handful of publishers to offer literature in translation exclusively Open Letter continues to reinvent the world of literary translation The tension builds in Elisa Shua Dusapin’s first novel after a mysterious guest arrives at a dead-end South Korean hotel a mysterious foreign visitor and a young woman whose dual nationality and anguished diffidence mark her out as an anomaly among her community are the main components of French-Korean author Elisa Shua Dusapin’s compact first novel a city so close to South Korea’s impenetrable northern counterpart that it is possible to take a day trip over the border Dusapin’s unnamed narrator has returned to her home town from university in Seoul Working as a live-in receptionist and cook at a dead-end guesthouse run by the grumpy Old Park she has resisted opportunities for further study abroad as obstinately as she holds out against an anticipated engagement to her vacuous model boyfriend Winter has encased Sokcho like a snow globe: in this precarious frozen landscape figures move as languorously as the crabs and octopuses occupying the glass tanks of its vast fish markets Monet and the “grey and dense” light of his native Normandy the contrast with Sokcho seems stark: “You had to be born here These brief conversational asides contrast with the book’s omnipresent viscerality: the narrator’s mother an expert at cooking the potentially deadly fugu or pufferfish has a fish market stall where scales and blood are routinely trod underfoot like the painful collective memories of a divided country from the narrator’s frequent cycles of overeating and purging to the hopeless quest for perfection manifested in the swollen bandaged face of a female hotel guest who has undergone plastic surgery with the toweringly obvious symbol of a land divided hanging over it all Dusapin’s terse sentences are at times staggeringly beautiful their immediacy sharply and precisely rendered from French by Aneesa Abbas Higgins: “the rain hammered down the sea rising beneath it in spikes like the spines of a sea urchin” Oiled with a brooding tension that never dissipates or resolves Winter in Sokcho is a noirish cold sweat of a book Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin, translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins, is published by Daunt (RRP £9.99). To order a copy go to guardianbookshop.com. Free UK p&p over £15 The theme of the recommended place in October selected by the Korea Tourism Organization is Finding a Drinking Village Let's listen to the sound of falling leaves I recommend a travel destination with a brewery where alcohol is cooked together with autumn A cooperative created by people who used to do home brewing at a beer-making club after falling in love with craft beer is located in Sokcho The building with red bricks and blue signs is more like a cafe than a brewery If you look out the window from the second floor where the Beer Bar is located There are more than 10 kinds of beer presented by Montbeer beer with unique ingredients such as strawberry ale and pitch white saur is also noticeable The ingredients used in beer are agricultural products from companies I met at the Korea Tourism Organization's Tourism Dure It is based on the idea that using local agricultural products is a true local beer strawberries produced in Nggol Strawberry Village in Sokcho were juiced to make strawberry ale It is a limited-edition beer in spring where you can feel the subtle strawberry scent by generously adding raw strawberries peach white sour beer was also made using peaches grown in Gom Village in Yangyang At the 2023 Korea International Beer Competition Peach White Sour received a gold medal and Strawberry Ale received a bronze medal are also grown directly in the fields for domestic use Montbeer opens to view brewing facilities that make beer they can freely tour the brewery facilities within the route that can be viewed In the middle of the building entrance and the stairs leading to the second floor there is a window to see the brewing tank facility that makes beer at a glance If you make a reservation and visit on a viewing date you can tour all over the brewery with detailed explanations Hansan Sogokju refers to Sogokju produced in Hansan only local materials must be used within this area more than 70 households have brewery facilities and have obtained liquor manufacturing licenses to produce Hansan Sogokju The basic ingredients needed to make alcohol are rice All processes of Hansan grain wine production are in the realm of 'moderate' that cannot be accurately measured This is because there are more carbohydrates than glutinous rice Alcohol brewing begins by not cooking rice in a sirloin and making hard-boiled rice Hansan Sogokju Gallery exhibits and sells Hansan Sogokju produced by more than 70 breweries in Hansan-myeon and five breweries take turns presenting alcohol every week Hansan Sogokju uses brown liquor bottles of the same shape made by Seocheon-gun Breweries can be distinguished by packaging boxes and labels attached to bottles more than 10 people) will also be operated on a reservation basis where you can taste three kinds of small rice wine with simple side dishes There is a historic village brewery that is good to visit in the fall Ominara is located at the entrance of Mungyeong Saejae Pass It is located between Juhulsan Mountain and Joryeongsan Mountain and boasts a pleasant and cool temperature all year round Mungyeong geographical environment is the best condition for growing omija Omija grows well in mountainous basins with abundant sunlight without being damaged by the wind among the semi-highland areas of 300 to 500m above sea level with a large daily temperature difference Mungyeong accounts for 45% of Korea's omija production Omina was established as the world's first Omija winery in September 2008 Omija Steel Wine "Omiroze" manufactured by the traditional fermentation method and the aging of oak barrels and Omija Sparkling Wine "Omiroze" manufactured by the traditional champagne method were introduced Omija sparkling wine is the only one produced in Omina at home and abroad is a brewing and distilling master who has studied world silk and Korean liquor for the past 44 years It was clear why CEO Lee Jong-ki developed Omija Wine It was his determination to make Korea's finest silk that was not left out anywhere in the world Omija wine was known through word of mouth and used as a dinner and toast to represent Korea including the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit and the Davos Forum Korean Night in January 2023 you can participate in the winery tour and tasting program The experience fee is 10,000 won per person and takes about 40 to 50 minutes Making my own commemorative liquor is 30,000 won per person Jinju Jinmaek Brewery has emerged as a tourist attraction in Jinju not only for beer enthusiasts but also for travelers Jinmaek is a high-quality craft beer made of the first-class Namgang River that flows through the middle of Jinju and the sitting kimil that grows on the land of Jinju Jinju Jinmaek Brewery opened in April this year The full-fledged development will begin in 2021 It is a specialized product developed as one of the commercial Renaissance projects in Jinju City More than 20 companies participated and went through blind tests of 6,000 people It does not collapse easily in most winds and is resistant to insect pests but it is softer and tastier than regular flour Sitting kimil almost disappeared due to imported wheat but it had been being milled for three generations at the Geumgok rice mill in Jinju and it was revived with the Korean wheat revitalization movement you can see the wide wheat fields again in Jinju There are two types of beer produced by Jinju Jinmaek Brewery It is an ale where you can feel the savory and rich scent of wheat and it boasts a cool and refreshing feeling Olbaem Saturday Night Market is held every Saturday From yukjeon that comes to mind when you think of Jinju There are tables on both sides of the entrance to the night market so you can taste the food you purchased before it cools down Jinju Jinmaek Brewery is usually prohibited from bringing in outside food but Saturday night market food is very welcome was opened in 1927 by Japanese Hikohei Shibata Hwang Ui-kwon was in charge of it for nearly 30 years Oh Byeong-in continues the name of the foundry travel all over the country I knew Haechangjujang and fell in love with the taste of makgeolli He was a regular customer of bone marrow enough to deliver to Seoul It was acquired in 2007 at the suggestion of Hwang Ui-kwon He learned how to make makgeolli by looking for a master of brewing It is now famous for its high-priced luxury makgeolli Haechang Makgeolli has 9 degrees and 12 degrees With a long fermentation time and additional processes the prices also reach 8,000 won and 12,000 won Haechang 18do is only sold for Lunar New Year The price of the brewery is 110,000 won (about 135,000 won per market) It was a product with the words "Haechang" engraved on a bottle of makgeolli made by a potter with 24K gold Haechang Jujang's makgeolli also has a different ingredient that makes it taste different It is made by mixing organic glutinous rice grown in Haenam with some non-glutinous rice The ratio of glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice is 8 to 2 Sticky rice has a subtle sweetness that makes it taste good without using artificial sweeteners The real value of Haechang Makgeolli was first noticed by drinkers a cartoonist of "Sikgaek," and Chung Yong-jin Chairman Chung Yong-jin introduced himself as "life makgeolli" on his SNS houses and gardens that retain the appearance of Japanese-style houses welcome The garden behind the house can be freely toured by visitors More than 40 species of trees fill the garden of about 2,500 square meters The oldest Baerong tree is about 700 years old Photos and materials = Korea Tourism Organization A court ruled that the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) is partially responsible for wildfires that caused massive damage to Goseong and Sokcho in Gangwon Province in 2019 The court ordered KEPCO to compensate the government and local governments for 2.7 billion won in damages The Chuncheon District Court Civil Division 2 (Chief Judge Yoon Kyung-ah) announced on the 15th that the government and Gangwon-do and Goseong-gun ruled in favor of some of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against KEPCO worth about 37 billion won The court said that a causal relationship was recognized between the defects of the utility pole but that the amount of damage submitted by the government alone cannot be proven and that it is not responsible for compensating public facilities that are not owned by the government The court said that the government's damage was caused by wildfires caused by natural forces such as strong winds and defects in KEPCO's installation of utility poles adding that it is reasonable to limit KEPCO's liability to 40 percent of the damages to fair burden of damages he ordered KEPCO to pay a total of 2.7 billion won including 920 million won to the government The damage of 710 million won claimed by Gangwon Province was not fully accepted the government filed a lawsuit in April 2022 to compensate for damages to public facilities failed to fulfill its duty of protective measures to the extent required by social norms in the process of installing and managing telegraph poles." "There are no defects in the installation of the telegraph pole," and even if the liability for damages is recognized the scale is much smaller than the government claims the victims filed a compensation suit against KEPCO and recently won some of them at the Supreme Court The first trial court ordered KEPCO to pay KRW 8.7 billion and delayed damages to the victims based on the appraisal results of professional appraisers in each field such as housing and forestry While maintaining the judgment of the first trial the second trial increased the amount of damage recognized by some victims The victims and KEPCO appealed against the second trial's ruling but the Supreme Court decided to dismiss the appeal without further hearing judging that there was no problem with the conclusion of the original ruling The Goseong and Sokcho wildfires that occurred in April 2019 spread to residential areas with strong winds of up to 32m at the moment causing more than 1,000 people to be displaced and 1,227ha of forest damage The total amount of damage alone amounts to 75 billion won the right to indemnify the government's claim against KEPCO after providing disaster support first to the victims was concluded with KEPCO's victory in June Although the government appealed against the second trial the Supreme Court decided to dismiss the hearing saying there was no problem with the conclusion of the original ruling We use cookies to personalize content and ads and to analyze our traffic and improve our service Translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins(Open Letter Elisa Shua Dusapin’s Winter in Sokcho is set in a South Korean resort town “a place oozing winter and fish” in the desolate off-season The unnamed narrator—a young woman born to an absent French father and a South Korean mother—works at an old which include a woman recovering from facial reconstruction surgery and a mountain climber While Winter in Sokcho is centered on the quietly tortured romance between Kerrand and the narrator (whose boyfriend is away in pursuit of a modeling career) Dusapin’s carefully considered approach to emotion is best shown in the relationship between the narrator and her mother As the mother—who works at a nearby fish market—frets about her daughter’s health she’s oblivious to her daughter’s shared anxiety about the same Like the mother’s famed preparation of blowfish a dish that can be toxic if it’s not handled carefully each interaction between the two is loaded with love and pain threatening to spill over into catastrophe with one fatal misstep But despite their frustration with each other sleeping in the same bed every Sunday night Dusapin was only twenty-four when Winter in Sokcho winning her the Prix Robert Walser and Prix Régine Deforges including Aneesa Abbas Higgins’s translation into English And it is Dusapin’s controlled language that creates the sensory magic of the novel The narrator’s descriptions of Kerrand’s illustrations real enough to touch,” could just as accurately apply to the novel’s prose The greater concerns of the novel—unrequited love self-discovery—are contextualized through Dusapin’s subtle descriptions of the light in Sokcho Each relationship is understood through the prism of the narrator’s hometown surrounded by sea on the east and mountains on the west both fleeting and impermeable for its year-round residents: “A place taking shape in the moment of conception and then dissolving.” It is easier to conceptualize a city like Sokcho on the grand scale of metropolises and colonial histories the city is rendered as an intensely personal place sensual acts: the taste of a fish before it is swallowed the wave of ink as it pours across a cartoonist’s work the rising and falling of a mother’s chest as she sleeps next to her daughter Fi Churchman Book Reviews01 April 2020ArtReview Asia a fishing town and popular holiday destination in northern South Korea Winter in Sokcho – in its first English translation; the novel was originally published in French in 2016 – takes place over a few weeks either side of Seollal (Korean New Year) during which the protagonist finds herself drawn towards a guest at the hotel: Yan Kerrand has arrived in this small border town to finish the last of a comic book series Elisa Shua Dusapin’s first-person narrative is formed of crystalline sentences that favour lucid imagery to describe themes of loneliness identity (the protagonist’s mother is a Korean fishmonger And while all this seems to lie just beneath the same layer of ice that keeps the town frozen over the winter Dusapin has a knack for thawing the narrative with moments of intimate tension between the protagonist and Kerrand or with more intensely corporal descriptions like ‘I scrubbed myself for a long time… scraping away at dead skin cells and sebum… then I plunged into the scalding water until my skin dissolved into a mass of muscle and fat’ – uncomfortably mirrored by a description of the mother’s preparation of puffer fish the act of scrubbing and of renewal is a recurring motif: in another guest whose cosmetically altered face is hidden by bandages Throughout the novel there is a melancholic sense that the relationship between the protagonist and Kerrand is on the brink of melting away that the characters break apart from each other It’s also in this act that they finally find themselves coming into form From the spring 2020 issue of ArtReview Asia Jonathan T.D. 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By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy For the full-fledged summer vacation season East Coast beaches are suffering from jellyfish local governments declared a "war on jellyfish," putting safety management on alert nearly 1,000 jellyfish stings occurred on the east coast of Gangwon-do and Gyeongbuk 448 jellyfish stings were reported in East Coast Beach in Gyeongsangbuk-do from the 6th of last month to the 31st of last month Compared to only six jellyfish stings that occurred in two months between July and August last year Gangwon East Coast Beach is also experiencing a surge in stinging accidents 513 jellyfish stings occurred in six cities and counties This is more than a 10-fold increase compared to 45 cases the previous year Gangneung had the largest number of cases with 239 The surge in jellyfish stings is due to a surge in the appearance of jellyfish due to increased sunlight and rising water temperatures as the heat wave continues this summer a professor at Kyungpook National University (major in marine ecology) there have not been many subtropical fish species on our coast but the temperature rise has increased the frequency of subtropical fish." the most frequent appearance on the east coast and problematic is the "Nomura Ipgeet Sea Fly." Nomura bite jellyfish are highly toxic and cause swelling or pain in the skin when stung According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Nomura Ipgeet jellyfish have occurred off the coast of China since May and have flowed into Korea along the ocean currents It is a very large jellyfish with a body length of 1m and the population is believed to have increased rapidly due to rising water temperatures the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has issued a special warning for the level of Nomura Ipgeet sea fly across the west coast Local governments are struggling to prevent damage as the damage from jellyfish stings has increased rapidly Gyeongsangbuk-do Province decided to set up an emergency budget of 87 million won to install jellyfish blocking nets and deploy personnel to collect jellyfish to manage safety as jellyfish blocking nets are showing great effects we plan to install nets mainly in areas where jellyfish often appear jellyfish blocking nets were installed at all beaches (three places) in the jurisdiction Gangwon Province plans to install jellyfish nets at all beaches in the province next year Local governments are ordering to stop playing in the water immediately if they find jellyfish when using the beach rinse them thoroughly with seawater or saline when they are stung by jellyfish and relieve the pain with a hot pack (45℃) if the pain remains He also urged safety personnel around him to report it and receive first aid "We are taking measures such as restricting access to jellyfish when they appear," and added "We will do our best to manage safety until the end of the vacation season." South Koreans are being urged to show extra caution during this year’s beach season following the discovery of aggressive sharks in their surrounding waters — including great whites a species made infamous by the film “Jaws.” The Sokcho Coast Guard Station announced Sunday that it had implemented “reinforced safety management posture” measures after the recent sightings of different species of shark in the waters under its jurisdiction a fishing boat operating in the waters around 7.5 km east of Susan Port in Yangyang County It measured 210 cm in length and 120 cm in circumference After consultation with an expert institution it was concluded that the animal was a relatively non-aggressive salmon shark Fishers reported the discovery of another dead shark around 5.1 kilometers off Sokcho Port at 4:20 am on June 23 another dead shark was found by fishers 2.7 km off of Jangsa Port roughly two kilometers north of Sokcho Port the shark found off Sokcho was believed to be a salmon shark But the other shark found off Jangsa — measuring 195 cm long and 95 cm around — was a great white Great whites are considered the premier example of sharks that can be fatally aggressive toward humans They are categorized as the most ferocious of the sharks Great white sharks are responsible for many of the attacks on humans that take place at beaches and in the sea around the world The problem is that sightings of great whites around South Korea are increasingly common a dead great white measuring 150 cm in length was found dead on the shore of Soan Island in Wando County great whites have been caught near Suryeom Port in Gyeongju seven shark attacks on human beings have been recorded during the summer months in South Korea including one on a university student who died after being bitten while swimming at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong in July 1959 another five sharks in South Korean waters are known to attack people a dead copper shark measuring 126 cm in length was found on the beach in front of Jaguri Park in Seogwipo on Jeju Island A mako shark measuring around 300 cm long was caught in a net off Jangho Port in Samcheok Another mako measuring 320 cm long was caught near Bongpo Port in Goseong in April 2022 Analysts attributed the repeated sightings of aggressive sharks around South Korea to the effects of climate change with rising water temperatures causing a gradual northward shift in the waters that subtropical species are able to inhabit Korean fishers caught a Pacific bluefin tuna weighing 160 kilograms (352.74 lbs) in their net off the coast of Gangneung the largest to have been caught in the country The bluefin tuna is typically found in subtropical waters “Sharks continue to be detected in East Sea waters in recent days and those playing in waters should take extra precautions for their safety and alert the Coast Guard immediately if they see a shark,” urged Kim Si-beom the chief of the Sokcho Coastguard Station Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr] The luxury hotel "Casia Sokcho" of Banyan Group Kasia Sokcho invited local figures such as Sokcho Mayor Lee Byung-sun to hold a grand opening event Kasia is a premium hotel and resort brand of Banyan Group and currently operates in Bintan it will make its first debut as Cassia Sokcho Cassia Sokcho was designed by architect Kim Chan-joong who was selected as the "20 World Architects to Watch" by the British Wallpaper and completed a sophisticated formative beauty based on the motif of the book It has a total of 674 rooms with two basement floors and 26 ground floors on a 12,202㎡ site All rooms have private balconies and bathtubs in the 'Ocean View' Five meeting and banquet halls have been set up to enjoy conferences and meetings in the hotel The largest banquet hall is 836 square meters It has a good sense of openness due to the lack of columns and it also has LED screens and professional sound equipment a restaurant where you can taste various grill dishes such as barbecue and seafood and a roof top bar where you can enjoy premium alcoholic beverages are also operated Saunas are divided into large jacuzzi and dry sauna A kids cafe has also been built in consideration of the demand for family travel The general manager who will manage the overall operation of the hotel is an industry veteran has gained extensive experience by working at Sheraton Grand Walkerhill (now Grand Walkerhill Seoul) He became the first Korean to win Marriott International's 'General Manager of the Year Award' in 2020 "With beautiful sea view rooms and convenient and colorful auxiliary facilities we will provide customers with a special rest," adding "We will grow it into a new landmark of Sokcho." This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information TORONTO--Three directors with roots in Japan came to this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with heartfelt films about the emotional lives of young people and resilient friendship in a world where even the ground is unstable Director Hiroshi Okuyama’s “My Sunshine” is a poignant winter love story that swirls around among two adolescent figure skaters and their coach in a small “I wanted to capture a boy’s growing up over a winter,” Okuyama said in the email to Reuters He said he left a lot of room for interpretations in the film so that the audience could fill the blanks with their own thoughts this film could very well be for me,’” he said The film also screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May Okuyama won the New Directors Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain at the age of 22 with his debut feature “Jesus,” becoming the youngest ever recipient at the festival Japanese-French director Koya Kamura’s “Winter in Sokcho,” an adaptation of the novel by the same name spotlights a young woman with a French father and South Korean mother living in a small town of Sokcho As she confronts complicated feelings toward her father she embarks on a quest to define her own identity after a triggering encounter with a Frenchman who visited the town the character’s journey resonated as if it were his own “I felt some kind of connection,” Kamura said in an interview with Reuters He himself always felt like a “foreigner” both in France and Japan questioning how to define himself throughout his life “I felt like I had no country on my own,” he said “It took me a while to accept that I could be in between and that I didn’t have to validate from the others my background somehow.” Kamura’s message in his debut feature was one of self-acceptance Kamura believes that the story is universal and has the potential to deliver its message far beyond South Korea Another film that captured the intricacy of human connection was “Happyend.” Director Neo Sora portrays the evolving relationships and inner struggles of two high school friends in a Tokyo set in the near-future as the graduation draws near and the future remains uncertain which made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this month Sora is best known for his last year’s documentary tribute to his late father ‘Any Crybabies Around?’ wins Spain award for cinematography Japanese cinema proves in Cannes it’s a force to be reckoned with Actress in film ‘2 Women’ says she felt connected to writer she plays Part of triple murder caught on camera; man eyed film career Asylum seekers speak out about cruel detention in secretly shot film Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission new hotels and resorts are opening their doors one after another in Sokcho Existing accommodation facilities such as the Youngrangho Resort are also being renovated to include a Starbucks and attract vacationers Banyan Group announced its plan to open Cassia Sokcho a luxury resort featuring 674 rooms and five dining and bar options Cassia is one of the brands of the global hotel and resort chain Banyan Group and is being introduced for the first time in Korea It is a modern and unique concept residence hotel brand aimed at consumers looking for leisurely relaxation spaces Cassia Sokcho was designed by architect Kim Chan-jung who was selected as one of the “20 Architects to Watch” by U.K All 674 rooms of Cassia Sokcho offer scenic views of the East Sea Banyan Group is set to open HOMM Marina Sokcho on June 21st HOMM is a practical hotel chain similar to the Shilla Stay boperated by Hotel Shilla the date was moved up to June in anticipation of the early summer heat The Youngrangho Resort operated by Shinsegae Central City completed a 9-month renovation and reopened its doors on April 29th This renovation is the facility’s first in 11 years since July 2013 At the Starbucks located on the 20th-floor rooftop of the Youngrangho Resort guests can enjoy special cocktails while overlooking the lake The resort also unveiled 12 kids’ rooms on the 2nd floor Korea’s inflation rises 2.1% in April Samsung Electronics’ R&D costs hit record $24 bn in 2024 Musinsa enters emergency management for first time since inc.. Incheon Airport poised to turn a profit in 2023 LG expands bio sector with record R&D investments Competition for Korea’s first clean hydrogen power projects .. Tous les Jours rebrands as ‘TLJ,’ targets premium bakery mar.. OK Financial prepares for Sangsanin Savings Bank acquisition SK Group speeds up development of industry-focused AI Agent Asiana Airlines swings to loss in 2024 on currency losses Samsung smart farm tech boosts mango yields, cuts costs in J.. LK Samyang launches superwide zoom lens with German partner Musinsa’s beauty business surges 130% in Q1 Luxury watches, jewelry rise as new growth engine for depart.. KakaoMap launches indoor navigation for 54 major train stati.. SK telecom shares fall on new subscription freeze KEPCO to unveil first 5-year power distribution plan by mid-.. Daemyung Sono to sell entire stake in Air Premia LG CNS partners with KAIST to train AI transformation expert.. item.tmx : Math.floor(item.tmn)+'/'+Math.floor(item.tmx)) +'℃ Samsung’s Bespoke AI Combo hits 100,000 sales milestone LG Energy Solution seeks global talent in U.S. LG Electronics rolls out tumbler washer MyCup LG Elec installs LED scoreboard at Boston Red Sox stadium HD Hyundai Heavy holds ceremony for Philippine patrol ship LG unveils 2025 OLED Evo TV Samsung unveils gaming monitor with glasses-free 3D technology KITA Chief meets Texas Governor to discuss semiconductor subsidies KB Kookmin Bank, KCS to enhance forex monitoring system LG Electronics’ AI Washtower optimizes laundry in 3 seconds With tropical nights continuing throughout the country, Gyeongpo and Sokcho beaches in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, will open at night. The Gyeongpo Summer Festival will also be held in conjunction with the nighttime opening. Various genres of performances such as K-POP, soul, rock, and hip-hop will be held against the backdrop of the blue sea from the 30th to August 5th. There will also be a variety of hands-on events such as mini-summer sports competitions linked to the Paris Olympics, chin-ups and arm wrestling competitions with famous YouTubers, and water gun games. The nearby Sokcho Beach will also be open until 9 p.m. for 17 days from the 26th to August 11th. Sokcho Beach operates various convenience facilities such as free wheelchair rental service for the socially disadvantaged, outdoor coin showering, and sand digging. The remaining four city and county beaches in the East Sea, Samcheok, Goseong, and Yangyang are not allowed to obtain at night. ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool, NAVER papago. South KoreaSituated in the country’s rugged northeast Gangwon Province is where Koreans go to commune with nature world-class ski slopes and beaches home to ideal surfing conditions It’s also a fascinating cultural destination given that the province is easily accessible by car a road trip is the perfect way to take in this magical corner of the country rent a canoe and cruise placid Uiam Lake along the Mullegil water path don’t miss the Gubongsan Mountain Observatory Cafe Street before finishing the day with dinner on ‘Dakgalbi Street’ in downtown Chuncheon where a host of restaurants serve up the city’s speciality of spicy stir-fried chicken a hanok-style complex dedicated to Korea’s traditional food culture This 1,000-year-old Buddhist site sits on the Odaesan mountain and its surroundings offer excellent hiking the country’s third-highest and arguably most majestic peak this massif of ridges and stoney spires looms over the seaside city of Sokcho Start the day with a stroll around Sinheungsa Temple before tackling the 800 or so stairs to the top of the dramatic rock formation of Ulsanbawi (2,874ft) or jump on the Seoraksan Cable Car to the ruins of Gwongeumseong Fortress trek up and along Dinosaur Ridge or scale the mountain’s main peak Finish it all off with a much-needed soak at the Osaek Carbonated Hot Springs situated in between Sokcho and Yangyang. Photograph by Getty ImagesDay four: SokchoSet before the picturesque backdrop of Seoraksan Sokcho is one of Korea’s most charming areas While tourism has taken off in recent years fishing is still the backbone of the local economy Head down to the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market to try delicacies such as ojingeo sundae (stuffed squid) saewoo twigim (deep-fried shrimp) or dak kang jung (sweet crispy fried chicken) the hand-pulled pedestrian cable ferry that goes to Abai Village — a settlement of North Korean refugees that dates back to the Korean War End the day by watching the sun dip behind the Seoraksan ridge from the top of Sokcho Expo Tower before having dinner at one of the many restaurants near the market Follow National Geographic Traveller (UK) on social media 'Smithsonian to spread Korean culture, art to people worldwide' A bilateral agreement with Japan will bolster cooperation in protecting the nationals of both nations abroad. Click here A bilateral agreement with Japan will bolster cooperation in protecting the nationals of both nations abroad. Click here to read more about the latest summit between leaders of both countries Korea and New Zealand have agreed to advance talks on elevating the bilateral Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership. In Paris Summer Paralympics, the Jeong-Kang pair will face in the final Hong Kong in mixed pair BC3 boccia. Find more ab K-UNESCO Adventure 2024ㅣ Ep3. Baekje Historic Areas Had too much of Seoul? This time it’s BUSAN! | HOME SWEET HOME | Ep.29 Hadan-dong “Reading is so sexy!” — Headlined by The Guardian (UK)　| Balance Talk | Ep. 28 GenZ Trend: Text Hip Affiliated professor, Graduate School of Dongguk University KCC, PNP launches TOP COP special class to enhance tourist safety Sumi Hwang, Jusung Gabriel Park & Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra Changgeuk Concert: Mr. Rabbit’s Journey to the Underwater Palace Posted October. 19, 2022 07:50, Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker the only city in South Korea where Pokémon Go works by Dami Lee Source Associated Press, The Korea Herald, and Huffington Post Korea FacebookThreadsThere's a lovely little seaside town in South Korea called Sokcho where you can lay on the beach and have some fried chicken and beer delivered by foot But this idyllic summer spot is being visited by a new type of tourist: the pokémon master Sokcho is the only place in South Korea country where the popular app works Pokémon Go isn’t available in South Korea because the game uses data from Google Maps which is restricted by the South Korean government due to security concerns South Korea is still technically at war with North Korea and the government has stated that it could release its map data only if Google deletes information on key security locations like military facilities It’s unclear whether the game will ever be made available The rhombus-shaped cells below show the areas that Niantic has labeled in its mapping system as restricted areas Since word got out that it was possible to play Pokémon Go in Sokcho, the town has been bombarded with tourists looking to play. Bus tickets from Seoul to Sokcho are sold out, according to the Associated Press and tour packages including shuttle buses and hotel reservations have been popping up on deal websites: 티몬에서ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ속초 셔틀버스가ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/WVf9uPfQHE Sokcho Mayor Lee Byung-seon has fully embraced the Pokémon Go craze announcing he would increase free Wi-Fi hotspots and battery charging stations Below is a map of all the free Wi-Fi spots in Sokcho The Mayor even caught a Machop (Fun fact: its Korean name translates to ‘Muscle Monster’) in this adorable Facebook Live interview with The Huffington Post in Korea Sokcho restaurants are going out of their way to welcome Pokémon Go players with banners advertising water 속초횟집 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/FvqN2k6dXv Enterprising youngins are charging egg-hatching services at 1,000 won per km 속초 신알바 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/wFI0ISm02T the area of Sokcho seems to be a hotbed of activity for pokémon This player reported catching all of the circled pokémon below in the span of 30 minutes in #SokchoPokemonTown: “I heard Pokémon Go works in Sokcho and caught 11 pokémon just in my room.” Pokémon Go is enticing South Koreans to make plans to visit Sokcho for a weekend trip you’ll find people sharing travel tips and restaurant recommendations “The 7 foods you need to eat if you’re in Sokcho to catch pokémon”: 포켓몬 잡으러 속초 가서 반드시 먹어야 할 음식 7가지 https://t.co/khnp5nBLgF pic.twitter.com/0B83LJPqQ8 The game’s been a blessing for Sokcho, which people are now calling “Pallet Town.” Hopefully, all this enthusiasm means it’ll be released for the rest of Korea to play as well. People see the New Year’s first sunrise on Seonyudo Bridge at Seonyudo Park in Yeongdeungpo District in western Seoul on Monday New Year’s Day fireworks take place in front of Chuncheon City Hall in Gangwon on Monday Visitors at Gyeongpo Beach in Gangwon wait for the New Year’s first sunrise on Monday morning Regions alongside the East Sea missed the clear sunrise due to low clouds formed above the ocean waters A blue dragon statue was installed on Gwangalli Beach in Busan on Friday three days ahead of New Year’s Day on Monday